Poplar Bluff, Missouri - Almost 250 athletes from about 20 schools and agencies participated in the Southeast Area spring games of Special Olympics Missouri held Friday, April 22, at Poplar Bluff Junior High School.
It was the most participation in recent memory, according to Development Director Penny Williams, who noted Special Olympics Missouri has partnered with Junior High for nearly two decades, and has been a part of the community for even longer.
Principal Bob Case was recognized for his continuing support of the organization, along with the Parks and Recreation Department. Athletes from Senior High, Junior High, Middle School and O’Neal Elementary competed in events including the standing long jump, 100 meter run and 4x100 relay. PBHS Student Council along with multiple agencies volunteered to help organize the games.
Shown in the photo: Ember Cowin of PBJHS wins first place in the tennis ball throw.
Article and photo submitted by Tim Krakowiak, Communications/Marketing Coordinator, Poplar Bluff R-I School District.
Poplar Bluff, Missouri - A total of 35 Poplar Bluff High School juniors were inducted into the National Honor Society during the annual spring ceremony on Wednesday, April 6, in the Kay Porter Theater.
The pledges represented the largest group Principal Mike Kiehne had the privilege of welcoming since he took his position five years ago, he noted.
“You will sign the historic Poplar Bluff High School register that dates back to the 1940s with alumni – too many to name,” said Kiehne, holding up the register to almost 100 in attendance, later joking: “It’s an old looking book.
“In making this pledge, you are representing not only yourselves but your families and also PBHS, and all those folks before you who were of great service to the community, and probably still are in our community to a large degree,” the principal continued.
Selection is based on scholarship, leadership, service and character by majority vote of a five-member faculty council appointed by the principal, according to chapter adviser Paul Conover, a social studies teacher.
PBHS Principal Mike Kiehne congratulates the new inductees of the National Honor Society. (in alphabetical order): Michael Anagnostopoulos, Hunter Aud, Jazlyn Barnes, Dustyn Barnett, Alyssa Bubanovich, Justin Capps, Jordan Cox, Madison Decker, Drake Dugas, Hannah Fortner, Alexis Hecker, Rachel Henson, Lane House, Katie Huskey, Preston Jenson, Samara Kilgore, Grace King, Morgan McAtee, Hamiz Mirza, MacKenzie Moore, Jared Moses, Trenton Nepean, Molly Ormsby, Analeise Pyland, Katie Redwine, Alexis Reyes-Mortero, Ronin Rice, Lauren Rowland, Madison Sherrill, Humza Siddiqui, Victoria Traver, Baylee Valenzuela, Chloe Vernon, Adam Vincent and Taylor Wiseman.
Photo and article submitted by Tim Krakowiak, Communications/Marketing Coordinator, Poplar Bluff R-I School District
More than 20,000 square feet was added to the original facility as the result of a $1 million federal grant, plus the district-wide levy issue voters approved in 2014. The construction project is the first of several major renovations to be completed this year as part of the R-I buildings plan.
“Everything we do on the board level is done with the goal in mind of providing our children with the best possible education, to make them college and career-ready and to help our kids in the Poplar Bluff area compete anywhere in the world with anybody,” said board president John Scott. He added that so far the rest of the projects are on schedule and within budget.
Superintendent Chris Hon thanked the many individuals involved in making the long-range plan a reality, including the voters for producing a 15-year record turnout. Architect Ben Traxel explained that the safe room, which doubles as a gymnasium, was designed to withstand an F5 tornado with 250 mph winds.
The Junior High Science Department will move into six of the nine new classrooms next school year. The school also received ADA ramps, new bathroom and locker room facilities, and a loop road around the campus. In phase two of the plan, the lower gym will be converted to an industrial arts classroom, and the school will be able to vacate its standalone buildings altogether.
Zoellner Construction, the contractor over the Middle School as well as the four elementary school renovations this summer, completed the expansion of Junior High. The 132,000 square feet being added by K&S Associates to the future high school is slated for completion in September.
Poplar Bluff, Missouri - Chris Hon, a lifelong educator, was among eight Missouri superintendents nominated this year for the prestigious Robert L. Pearce Award, which is presented annually by the Missouri Association of School Administrators.
Hon was selected for the honor by his colleagues in the Southeast MASA District. He was recognized as a nominee during the awards banquet at the MASA spring conference on Wednesday, March 30, at Lake Ozark. The Pearce award program is a long-standing tradition of the association honoring excellence in education and community leadership among Missouri superintendents.
“Chris Hon is a true public education professional who has positively impacted many students and staff during his career,” said Kennett Superintendent Chris Wilson, district president. “It was an honor for the Southeast MASA District to nominate Mr. Hon for the Pearce Award and is a small token of appreciation for all he has done for public education in Southeast Missouri.”
The annual award was instituted in 1987 by Richard and David Pearce, then principals of the Pearce Corporation, a Missouri architectural firm specializing in educational facility planning. The awards purpose is to recognize the hard work and dedication of superintendents and their contributions to the children of Missouri.
Hon was additionally presented honorary life membership in recognition of his service to education and participation in his professional organization. Hon, who is retiring in June, has worked nearly three decades in public education, serving as the superintendent of Poplar Bluff Schools for six years.
Article and Photo by Tim Krakowiak, Communications/Marketing Coordinator, Poplar Bluff R-I School District.
Poplar Bluff, Missouri - Eugene Field left attendees in tears of joy following Leadership Day on Friday, April 8, demonstrating why the elementary school is on track to become lighthouse certified, a prestigious designation currently held by only six schools in Missouri.
“Let your greatness shine” was the theme of the third annual event during which students put on skits involving public speaking, song, flag etiquette and science experiments all choreographed to showcase how the good habits they practice daily reflect in everything they do, both in and outside of the classroom.
“I feel as their coach they have a remarkable staff, everyone is absolutely committed and they genuinely love these kids,” Leader in Me senior consultant Dr. Paul Pitchford said regarding the certification process. “They’re really, really, really close. They just have a couple more things they want to perfect.”
An independent review team will visit Eugene Field in the fall to evaluate how deeply the school has embedded the program principles into its culture, and whether students are taking ownership of their learning and behavior, according to Pitchford.
Eugene Field received a grant from FranklinCovey’s I Am A Leader Foundation valued at tens of thousands of dollars during the 2013/14 school year to implement the school-wide program, based on Dr. Stephen Covey’s best seller, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” The school informally piloted the program prior.
Chris Hastings, a semi-retired auctioneer, has volunteered in Eugene Field classrooms for five years and has witnessed the character growth of the students since the program was launched. “I’d say they have a better outlook on life in general,” Hastings commented.
Not only does the faculty instill the habits during every class, students live them out at home and through community service projects.
Stetson Pullun, 9, said her favorite habit is No. 7—to sharpen the saw—which is to maintain a balanced program for self-renewal in the following aspects of life: physical, social/emotional, mental and spiritual. The third grader explained how her mother has set up a lighted reading nook for her in a closet that she enjoys using after she puts her younger brother to bed.
“After doing a hard day of work, I want to,” said Stetson, referring to rewarding herself with some relaxation time. “Especially with a 4-year-old,” she continued to exclaim. “He follows me everywhere!”
Through the program, students track their own attendance, behavior and academics in data notebooks, and even lead parent/teacher conferences to discuss their progress and goals.
Incoming superintendent Scott Dill witnessed Leadership Day for the first time last week. He is a practitioner of the seven habits, but was impressed to see them applied at such a young age, he noted.
“It really permeates at this level,” Dill observed. “Producing assessment capable learners is not just setting the students up for success at school, but they are going to go on to become better citizens – better adults. It’s fantastic.”
Science leaders Jasmeka Harley (left) and Madison Ballew perform a foaming volcano experiment with PTO President Lori Amoss and R-I Chief Technology Officer Aaron Badgley.
Article and photo submitted by Tim Krakowiak, Communications/Marketing Coordinator, Poplar Bluff R-I School District
